£4m boost for high-tech communication equipment

The Scottish Government has announced a £4m cash injection to fund high-tech communication equipment similar to that used by Professor Stephen Hawking.

Thousands of people across the country will benefit from the extra cash, which will improve services for people who need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology.

The equipment enables people with difficulty expressing themselves using speech to communicate in alternative ways. Tools can range from state-of-the-art computers with specialist software, to low-tech picture communication books.

The moneypot comes as the Government prepares to launch its Right to Speak guidance, which has been drawn up jointly with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

The guidance takes forward the recommendations of the Short Life Working Group, which set up in 2009 to agree short, medium and long-term goals to deliver better outcomes for people who need these services.

The funding, which is being provided over the next three financial years, will be provided to health boards across Scotland to buy equipment to meet current and future demand and to set up quality, sustainable AAC services in partnership with education and community care services.

Some of the funding will also be provided to NHS Education for Scotland to develop education and training for NHS staff.

Announcing the funding, Public Health Minister, Michael Matheson ,said: "I am delighted to be able to announce this £4m funding, which I am sure will make a real difference to people who have difficulty expressing themselves using speech. The kinds of equipment and speech and language therapy support services it will buy are vital for thousands of people in Scotland.

"I’m also very pleased that we will be able to take forward the recommendations of the working group, which I’m confident will make a real difference to the lives of those people who need these services.”